French bulldog remains the most popular in New York homes

Violet, a French bulldog, helped the American Kennel Club announce the 2016 rankings.

New Yorkers were bullish on dogs last year.

The French bulldog came in as the top breed in 2016 for city households, according to the American Kennel Club.

The dogs have topped the list of the most popular pooches in New York since 2014, when they toppled their huskier cousins, the English bulldog, which placed third this year. Labrador retrievers were number two, with German shepherds and poodles filling out the fourth and fifth slots.

“New Yorkers—and the nation as a whole—have been trending towards larger breeds for the past several years," said Brandi Hunter, vice president of communications for the AKC. "Then came the nationwide love affair with the French bulldog."

The dog requires less exercise than bigger, more energetic dogs like retrievers, and has a short coat that is easier to care for.

Despite the French bulldog becoming ubiquitous on city streets, some neighborhoods have remained loyal to other breeds.

The Cavalier King Charles spaniel was the most popular breed for Upper East Side residents, as it has been for years, while the Havanese was top dog in Riverdale, in the Bronx.

New York households have fallen out of love with terriers such as the Yorkshire, which was the top breed back in 2011, but now sits at eighth.

Nationwide, the French bulldog only ranks sixth, behind bigger dogs like German shepherds and the Labrador retriever, which ranked number one.

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